As part of renewed efforts to strengthen fiscal discipline, enhance urban administration, and boost internally generated revenue in the nation’s capital, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has announced its readiness to begin a comprehensive enforcement drive against property owners who have failed to settle statutory charges.
The enforcement is scheduled to commence on November 26, 2025, and will target outstanding ground rent, land use change and conversion fees, Right of Occupancy (R-of-O), Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills, and unregistered property transfers across the Federal Capital Territory.
The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, signalling what officials describe as “a major turning point” in the FCT’s longstanding struggle with widespread non-compliance.
For years, the FCTA has grappled with massive defaults, with billions of naira owed in ground rent and regulatory fees.
The Administration believes that enforcing compliance is crucial to maintaining Abuja’s urban infrastructure, funding public services, and preserving the integrity of urban planning regulations.
Enforcement of Ground Rent and Property Charges Begins November 26
According to Olayinka, the upcoming enforcement will focus heavily on defaulters who have ignored repeated notices regarding outstanding ground rent, land use change, conversion fees, and related property charges.
The enforcement of ground rent and property charges is expected to be wide-ranging, targeting individual homeowners, corporate entities, real estate developers, and individuals who acquired properties without completing mandatory documentation.
He noted that defaulters include any property owners who have not fulfilled statutory obligations such as paying ground rent, obtaining approvals for land use changes, settling conversion fees, or completing due process for title registration.
In addition, enforcement officers will move against individuals who purchased properties through sale or transfer but failed to obtain the mandatory Minister’s Consent and register their Deeds of Assignment, a requirement under the Land Use Act.
Olayinka stated that the enforcement is not sudden, emphasising that defaulters have been given extensive opportunities to regularise their status in line with the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s directives.
Long Trail of Notices Before Enforcement
The aide recalled that on May 26, 2025, following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention, the FCT Minister granted a 14-day grace period to enable defaulters clear outstanding ground rent and associated penalties. This was followed by several awareness campaigns and public notices.
Subsequently, on September 8, 9, and 10, 2025, the FCTA published the revised Land Use/Purpose Clause for properties in Abuja across major national newspapers, including online platforms.
These notices provided property owners with a 30-day window to pay penalties for land use violations, including a ₦5 million violation fee, among other applicable charges.
Olayinka explained that following this round of publications, the Administration issued one final warning, publishing notices on television, radio stations, and digital platforms.
These notices were specifically targeted at high-value districts such as Asokoro, Maitama, Garki, and Wuse, which have recorded the highest levels of land use abuses and unapproved conversions.
The final publication granted a further 14-day ultimatum for defaulters to comply with the terms attached to land use conversion approvals.
With that window now closed, the FCTA says enforcement will proceed without further extension.
FCTA Says New Crackdown is Critical for Urban Order
According to the Minister’s aide, the enforcement is a key part of the Administration’s broader reforms to strengthen urban development control, sanitise land administration processes, and ensure optimal revenue collection.
“The Administration has provided ample time for compliance, and we made extensive publications in newspapers, online platforms, radio, and television.
What begins on November 26 is a direct follow-through on a long-standing directive,” he said.
He stressed that land administration thrives on order, accountability, and transparency, adding that residents must understand that compliance is not optional.
“Those who purchased properties but did not register their interests, or those who altered the land use purpose of their buildings without approval, will be affected by this exercise.
Compliance with statutory charges and documentation is not negotiable in any modern city,” the statement added.
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What the Enforcement Means for Property Owners
The upcoming enforcement marks one of the most far-reaching compliance drives by the FCTA in recent years. Officials say the exercise will involve:
Sealing of properties with outstanding ground rent
Penalties and surcharges for land use change violations
Possible revocation of undeveloped properties with multiple years of unpaid charges
Mandatory documentation audit for all property transfers
Verification of Minister’s Consent and Deeds of Assignment
Enforcement presence across major districts and Area Councils
Real estate practitioners believe the crackdown may also help curb fraudulent land transactions, strengthen public confidence in FCT land administration, and ensure that genuine property owners obtain secure title documents.
Residents Urged to Comply Promptly
The FCTA reiterated that the enforcement is not punitive but aimed at restoring order in land administration and ensuring fairness.
Residents were urged to approach designated offices to settle outstanding fees, obtain approvals, and register titles before enforcement teams arrive.
The statement concluded that enforcement will continue until all identified defaulters regularise their obligations, stressing that Abuja must operate like other modern capitals where property ownership comes with obligations.
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